Get in the swing with Karen's School of Dance

May 1, 2007

is one of the people's choice winners - best dance studio. / CKarensSchoolOfDance

Written by

Kelly Murad

SPECIAL WRITER

You may have thought your family was big, but I guarantee this one is bigger.

At Karen's School of Dance, owner Karen Kern, along with her manager, receptionist and seven other dance instructors, have created a family atmosphere for their 700 students.

"We are involved with all of the kids like they are part of our family," said Kern. "They are all like my kids."

Kern, who grew up in Highland, has always had a passion for the art of dance. During her high school years, Kern attended the performing arts school Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, and graduated early. At the age of 17, Kern was attending Eastern Michigan University to study dance when she decided to open her own studio.

"I decided at a young age that I wanted to open a dance studio," she said.

Now, 21 years later, Karen's School of Dance has moved to a new location and was voted the "Best Dance Studio" by Milford Times readers in the annual People's Choice Awards. Karen's School of Dance has moved directly across the street from where it used to be, to a 6,000-square-foot studio.

"We needed more space," said Kern. "We have a much larger dance studio now."

When Kern made the decision to relocate her business, she knew she wanted to stay in the same area.

"I love it here," she said. "We have a state-of-the-art facility."

The new location is also accommodating to most of her students who are from this area.

"We have some kids from Howell, Flint and Holly, but the majority of the students are from the Highland/Milford area," said Kern.

Although the studio is larger, Kern tries to keep the dance classes small so they are more personalized. Among the 700 dancers at Karen's School of Dance there are both boys and girls ranging in ages from 2 years old to 19 years old.

"We also offer adult classes as well," said Kern. Karen's School of Dance offers basic classes such as, jazz, tap, ballet and pointe, along with some of the more uncommon classes, like hip-hop, modern, lyrical, jazz-gymnastics, Hawaiian and Tahitian. The classes range from beginning to advanced levels, depending on the age and ability of each individual.

Karen's School of Dance also has a dance company called Dance'Sations. With 51 students as part of the dance company, Dance'Sations competes in regional and national competitions three or four times per year.

"We have a lot of talented kids," said Kern. All of the instructors, including Kern, have the dancers interests in mind.

"We focus on technique," said Kern. "That way, if our students want to pursue dance professionally, they have the technical background."

One of Kern's students has been offered a full-ride dance scholarship from Wayne State University and the opportunity to participate in a three-month program where she would be performing in front of choreographers and agents in Los Angeles, Calif.

As it is stated in their mission statement, "Karen's School of Dance strives to instill self-confidence, self-esteem, discipline, creativity and poise in all our students through the art of dance."

Kern believes that because of her dedicated staff, the family atmosphere is instilled upon the students, therefore allowing Karen's School of Dance to set itself apart from all other dance studios.

Karen's School of Dance is located at 1185 S. Milford Road, in Highland. For more information, call (248) 887-1807 or visit www.danceatkarens.com.